Zurich Kloten

I arrived at the main terminal and headed for the Senator Lounge. I was granted access and asked for a voucher for the internet.

I took an espresso from the espresso machine in the lounge and a roll from the buffet. Unfortunately the power outlets in the lounge did not work and I had also difficulties to access the log-in page for the internet. It seems, that other passengers had difficulties as well and the lounge agents were notified and someone from the airport came and looked into the problems with the power outlets. It seems, he could not located the source for the failure at once.

Since I wanted to charge me mobiles, I decided to move over to the First Class lounge earlier than I had planed. Fellow flyertalker rcs85551 was on the same flight to Los Angeles and since he was flying in First Class and being a HON he had arranged that I could enter the lounge before he was arriving from Munich. I did not want to make use of this and wait until he arrived, but at least I could enjoy the perks of traveling together with a HON.

I headed for the First Class / HON Circle Lounge and asked if I could access the lounge as guest of rcs85551 being on the same flight to LAX. The lounge agent verified and told me, that this was of course possible and so I was granted access and took a seat in the more quiet part of the lounge. Before, I was given a brief introduction where everything in the lounge was located.

I fired my laptop and this time I had power and could also access the internet, until either the session was timed out or there were other problems with the network. Well it is holiday, so I got me something to drink and put some work in this trip report.

Rcs8551 arrived a bit later and we chatted a bit about the upcoming trip to French Polynesia among a few other things. I also tried the food options at the buffet in the main part of the lounge and I have to admit that they were quite good. But knowing that I would get a proper meal on the plane, I did not try that much.

Rcs85551 had opted for the latest possible shuttle from the First Class Lounge to the E terminal which was 12:30, the time boarding was scheduled to start. We were escorted down to the gates where the vans were waiting for the short drive through the tunnel. There was an additional security check and a passport check and then it was our turn and we were in the van and driven over to terminal E.

The drive took just a few minutes and soon we arrived at terminal E and were escorted to the security check where we said good buy to the guide, who drove us over from the main terminal. And again it was laptop out of the bag, shoes off and everything put through the x-ray machines. At the lines for First and Business Class only one person was queuing and we were through the check point in seconds. Up the stairs and there were the long lines for the security check for the US bound flights which was mentioned to us in the lounge. Luckily there were nobody at the counters for First and Business Class people and we had to wait less than a minute before an agent became available and our hand luggage was manually searched. Regarding the check, I have to say, that they made only a quick check and they could not check everything, although I was the first of us, rcs85551 was faster through the security check and we arrived at our gate, where the boarding process was about to start which a line for First and Business Class Passengers and another one for Economy. Boarding took some time, but soon enough it was our turn and we were on our way to the plane. Only one jetbridge was in use and we had to queue for a few minutes before we finally could enter the plane. We both turned right. Rcs 85551 was sitting one row in front of me, but in this case, this meant another class of service.

01 January 2010
ZRH – LAX
[Zurich – Los Angeles]
LX 40 (Swiss); Airbus A 340-300 (HB-JMK)
Gate E 26
13:10 – 16:45 [effective 13:16 – 16:35]
Business Class
Seat 02 A

I stored my belongings in the overhead compartment since there was no space in front of me in this first row of the Business Class Cabin. Hangers were placed in the magazine rack in front of my seat and I put my jacked on it which was stored by the flight attendant after a while. Newspapers were distributed and soon later pre-departure drinks were offered, a choice of water, orange juice and champagne. I opted - of course - for champagne.

The maître de cabine introduced herself personally and welcomed me on board. The captain also welcomed us over the intercom and informed us about the flight time for our flight to LAX. He expected an arrival prior to scheduled arrival time. The safety video was shown while we were pushed back a bit behind schedule at 13:16. This was caused not by passengers boarding the plane and the longer security checks, but loading luggage and cargo, according to the captain. Later the crew collected the glass from the pre-departure drinks and the menus were distributed. The camera in the front wheel was working and I could see the runway and the taxiway over the screens.

At 13:31 the plane accelerated and we were climbing into the still cloudy sky over Zurich.

Time for me to have a look in the menu (click on the icon for the menu)

After approximately 13 minutes the fasten seat belt signs were switched off, which was quite fast compared to my last flight on Lufthansa back in November. The crew began the preparation for the service. Tables were laid with linen. There was a first beverage round which a selection of either potatoes chips or assorted nuts after 30 minutes. I opted for the nuts and a glass of the red wine from one of my favorite states of Switzerland: Valais. During this time the orders for the main course were taken.

first beverage round

First Course
Air Dried beef , marinate cucumber, cauliflower mousse

Second Course
Roast fillet of beef, Ricola herb and red grape jus;
Ziger goat's cheese, polenta gnocchi, ratatouille

Third Course
Toblerone mousse, mandarin compote, sweet root cream

Meals service started after an hours in flight and I took the beef. The first course was served from the cart, but it did not came on a tray. In addition olive oil, butter and margarine as well as rolls and bread were available to accompany the first course. I got also a refill of my red wine and chatted a few words with flight attendant about “Le Valais”. The crew was friendly and doing a little bit small talk with the passengers, although this meant the service took a bit longer. The beef was really good and I like it – it remembered me to one of my many holidays with my parents in this part of Switzerland where we stayed at the same place, where the featured cook had his restaurant: Zermatt..

The used plates from the first course were collected after nearly 30 minutes and some more minutes later the main course was brought from the galley row by row while another beverage round was done. I again opted for the beef, which was really tasty and very soft. I came with polenta and vegetables. It was one of the best meals I have had on a plane so far in Business. A refill of my now empty glass of wine and of my also empty glass of water was done. Again, it took some time until the plates were collected. Like the first course, the dessert was served from the tray. I opted for the Toblerone Mousse and good a cup of tea. I could choose between a selection of different teas (unfortunately only bags) and was later offered also a glass of Port. The dessert tasted really good, the only down was, that it was really small. Maybe I should have gone for the fruit salad?

A refill of coffee or tea was done after 25 minutes and another 15 minutes later our tables were cleared. Altogether the service took close to two hours, we now were were three hours in flights.

I decided to use the lavatories before the most passengers had the same idea.

I then started my laptop and put some work in this trip report. The immigration forms for the US were distributed and the crew did a round offering duty free items. Sun shades were lowered and the lights were dimmed. The crew also distributed small bottles with water.

I listened to music and filled out the immigration form and did some other work, I could not really sleep on the flight but was able to doze a little bit and relax. So the night was not really long, I was not tired and I had something, I have not had on a flight for a long time: I really was exited about this trip and the destination.

In mid flight an ice cream service was done and I got a corn with two scopes of Mövenpick Ice cream.

The flight itself was uneventful. There was a very few beverage rounds done other in the cabin, but water and orange as well as apple juice were available in the cabin.

App, four hours prior to landing the crew offered some sandwiches, which were later also available in the galley, the selection consists of beef, cheese and salmon.

Two hours prior to landing the crew did a real meal service and offered rösti, cucumber salad and salmon, rolls and another beverage service, which included wines and beer. I skipped the meal service, since I was not really hungry. Again the meal service was done individually and no tray was used unlike for example on Lufthansa.

Soon later the captain came with an update of the arrival time and the weather information for Los Angeles. As usual, the most passengers used the remaining flight time for a visit to the lavatories while the crew began to prepare the cabin for the arrival and the seat belt signs were switched on and the headphones collected and soon later the inflight entertainment system shut down.

The camera was on and so the passengers could watch the landing on the screens in the cabin.

We touched down at 16:23 and taxied for our gate. We had to wait a few minutes before we could make the last meters towards the gate, where we finally arrived at 16:35. Only one jetbridge was in use and so the First Class Passengers had to pass the front row before they finally could leave the plane.

My travel mate was greeted by the Hon Arrival Service and escorted to immigration. Since we had no baggage he left before security, as rcs85551 told him, that he did not need any further assistance. Immigration was really quick and we were on our way to the pick up point for the shuttles to the rental car centers.

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